Professor EDWARD LESTER's Outputs (13)

Self-optimising continuous-flow hydrothermal reactor for nanoparticle synthesis (2025)
Journal Article
Jackson, C., Robertson, K., Sechenyh, V., Chamberlain, T. W., Bourne, R. A., & Lester, E. (2025). Self-optimising continuous-flow hydrothermal reactor for nanoparticle synthesis. Reaction Chemistry and Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1039/d4re00339j

An autonomous continuous-flow, hydrothermal synthesis reactor, capable of self-optimising nanoparticle size using an in-line characterisation technique and machine learning is presented. The developed system is used for synthesis of hematite (α-Fe2O3... Read More about Self-optimising continuous-flow hydrothermal reactor for nanoparticle synthesis.

Magnetic framework composites via continuous flow syntheses for CO2 capture (2024)
Journal Article
Woodliffe, J. L., Molinar-Díaz, J., Holland, B., Hussein, O. H., Lester, E., & Robertson, K. (2025). Magnetic framework composites via continuous flow syntheses for CO2 capture. Chemical Engineering Journal, 503, Article 158445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.158445

Magnetic framework composites (MFCs) are a novel class of materials containing magnetic nanoparticles with metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). They have demonstrated exciting potential across a range of applications including CO2 capture, benefiting fro... Read More about Magnetic framework composites via continuous flow syntheses for CO2 capture.

Development a modified crossing point temperature (CPTHR) method to assess spontaneous combustion propensity of coal and its chemo-metric analysis (2018)
Journal Article
Mohalik, N., Lester, E., & Lowndes, I. (2018). Development a modified crossing point temperature (CPTHR) method to assess spontaneous combustion propensity of coal and its chemo-metric analysis. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 56, 359-369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2018.09.00

Spontaneous combustion of Indian coals was investigated using spontaneous combustion rig at University of Nottingham, UK to assess their susceptibility. In the present study authors have used eleven coal samples collected from the Jharia coalfield (J... Read More about Development a modified crossing point temperature (CPTHR) method to assess spontaneous combustion propensity of coal and its chemo-metric analysis.

High efficiency synthesis of HKUST-1 under mild conditions with high BET surface area and CO2 uptake capacity (2018)
Journal Article
Chen, Y., Mu, X., Lester, E., & Wu, T. (2018). High efficiency synthesis of HKUST-1 under mild conditions with high BET surface area and CO2 uptake capacity. Progress in Natural Science, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnsc.2018.08.002

This study focuses on the development of a hydrothermal method for the rapid synthesis of good quality copper benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (referred to as HKUST-1) with high yield under mild preparation conditions to address the issues associated wit... Read More about High efficiency synthesis of HKUST-1 under mild conditions with high BET surface area and CO2 uptake capacity.

Development of a petrographic technique to assess the spontaneous combustion susceptibility of Indian coals (2017)
Journal Article
Mohalik, N., Lester, E., & Lowndes, I. (in press). Development of a petrographic technique to assess the spontaneous combustion susceptibility of Indian coals. International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization, https://doi.org/10.1080/19392699.2017.1360874

Petrographic studies are commonly used categorise the potential utilisation of coals. Eleven coal samples from the jharia coalfield (JCF), india, were studied using petrographic techniques to investigate maceral content, reflectance, and textural cha... Read More about Development of a petrographic technique to assess the spontaneous combustion susceptibility of Indian coals.

Application of ZnO nanoparticles in a self-cleaning coating on a metal panel: an assessment of environmental benefits (2017)
Journal Article
Stieberova, B., Zilka, M., Ticha, M., Freiberg, F., Caramazana-Gonzalez, P., McKechnie, J., & Lester, E. (2017). Application of ZnO nanoparticles in a self-cleaning coating on a metal panel: an assessment of environmental benefits. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 5(3), 2493-2500. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.6b02848

This article is focused on assessing environmental benefits of a self-cleaning coating (SCCs) containing nanoparticles (NPs) applied on metal panels. ZnO NPs are incorporated in the coating to enhance the level of hydrophobicity, which enables a dram... Read More about Application of ZnO nanoparticles in a self-cleaning coating on a metal panel: an assessment of environmental benefits.

Influence of mill type on densified biomass comminution (2016)
Journal Article
Williams, O., Newbolt, G., Eastwick, C., Kingman, S. W., Giddings, D., Lormor, S., & Lester, E. (2016). Influence of mill type on densified biomass comminution. Applied Energy, 182, 219-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.08.111

The impact of different mill fracture mechanisms were examined for a wide range of densified biomass pellets to provide a comprehensive analysis of biomass milling behaviour for pulverised fuel combustion. The milling behaviour of 7 woody, herbaceous... Read More about Influence of mill type on densified biomass comminution.

Impact of mill type on biomass mill behavior (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Williams, O., Eastwick, C., Lester, E., Giddings, D., & Lormor, S. Impact of mill type on biomass mill behavior. Presented at 2015 ASABE Annual International Meeting

With increasing use of biomass in pulverized fuel coal fired power stations, the impact of mill type on biomass size and shape is fundamental in optimizing mill and burner performance. The impact of mill type on the energy consumption, particle size... Read More about Impact of mill type on biomass mill behavior.

Large-scale continuous hydrothermal production and activation of ZIF-8 (2015)
Journal Article
Munn, A., Dunne, P. W., Tang, S., & Lester, E. (2015). Large-scale continuous hydrothermal production and activation of ZIF-8. Chemical Communications, 51(64), 12811-12814. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5cc04636j

© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015. A new method for the large-scale hydrothermal production and activation of ZIF-8 is presented in this communication. Activated ZIF-8 has been produced, at lab-scale and pilot-scale, at a rate of 27 g h-1 and 810... Read More about Large-scale continuous hydrothermal production and activation of ZIF-8.

Investigation into the applicability of Bond Work Index (BWI) and Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) tests for several biomasses compared to Colombian La Loma coal (2015)
Journal Article
Williams, O., Eastwick, C., Kingman, S., Giddings, D., Lormor, S., & Lester, E. (2015). Investigation into the applicability of Bond Work Index (BWI) and Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) tests for several biomasses compared to Colombian La Loma coal. Fuel, 158, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.05.027

With increasing quantities of biomass being combusted in coal fired power stations, there is an urgent need to be able to predict the grindability of biomass in existing coal mills, but currently no standard biomass grindability test exists. In this... Read More about Investigation into the applicability of Bond Work Index (BWI) and Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) tests for several biomasses compared to Colombian La Loma coal.

The impact of moisture on the milling behavior of different biomasses (2014)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Williams, O., Eastwick, C., Lester, E., Giddings, D., & Byrne, N. The impact of moisture on the milling behavior of different biomasses. Presented at 22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of moisture content on the milling behaviour of four different biomasses commonly used in the power sector and characterise their milling behaviour in a laboratory scale planetary ball mill. As received... Read More about The impact of moisture on the milling behavior of different biomasses.

The rapid size- and shape-controlled continuous hydrothermal synthesis of metal sulphide nanomaterials (2014)
Journal Article
Dunne, P. W., Starkey, C. L., Gimeno-Fabra, M., & Lester, E. (2014). The rapid size- and shape-controlled continuous hydrothermal synthesis of metal sulphide nanomaterials. Nanoscale, 6(4), 2406-2418. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3nr05749f

Continuous flow hydrothermal synthesis offers a cheap, green and highly scalable route for the preparation of inorganic nanomaterials which has predominantly been applied to metal oxide based materials. In this work we report the first continuous flo... Read More about The rapid size- and shape-controlled continuous hydrothermal synthesis of metal sulphide nanomaterials.

Optimisation of biomass milling for conveyance and combustion (2013)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Williams, O., Eastwick, C., Lester, E., Giddings, D., & Byrne, N. Optimisation of biomass milling for conveyance and combustion. Presented at 21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Agricultural wastes are increasingly being used as biomass materials for co-firing in coal fired power stations. However issues in milling and conveyance of agricultural residues are limiting the use of these resources and a greater understanding of... Read More about Optimisation of biomass milling for conveyance and combustion.